Register for pool-tables.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

G. C. BECK. REGISTER FOR POOL TABLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1902.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

LJ/fnesses PATENTED JUNE-3Q, 1908.

G. C. BECK. REGISTER FOR POOL TABLES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 25, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

R0 IODEL.

' UNITED STATES IPatented June 30, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

REGIS TERFOR POOL-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,503, dated dime 30,1903.

Application filed November 25, 1902. Serial No.132,724. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. BECK, of Beavercreek, Rock county,Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRegisters for Pool-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

In pool-rooms, particularly where a number of tables are used, theattendant has to be constantly on the alert to keep track of the numberof games played at any one of the series of tables, and he must alwaysbe present when atable is in use or some unscrupulous person mightdeceive him in regard to the number of games to be charged to a table,and thus defraud the pool-room proprietor of his just revenue.

The object, therefore, of my invention is to provide means connectedwith a suitable registering mechanism and with the triangle used forsetting the balls to prevent the use of the triangle until the game ischarged to that table, and thus render the constant presence of theattendant unnecessary.

Other objects of the invention; will appear from the following detaileddescription.

The invention consists generally in an operating mechanism whereto thepool-table triangle is connected and suitable connections between saidoperating mechanism and a register whereby when the triangle is graspedby the attendant to set the balls on the table the register will beoperated to charge a gamelto that table.

Further, the invention consists in a trip device provided in connectionwith said operating mechanism for withdrawing the triangle after it hasbeen used to set the balls and the game has been charged.

Further, the invention consists in a register provided with a counterand a mechanism for operating the same and a trip device for releasingthe counter to allow it to return to zero when a certain predeterminednumber of games have been registered.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a side elevation of the operating mechanism connected with aregister and ready for use. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the operatingmechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the same. -Fig. 4 is asection on the line w w of Fig. 3. m m of Fig. 2. V

In the drawings I have shown a registering mechanism that is preferablyarranged near the cashiers desk to enable the cashier or an attendant todetermine at a glance the number of games registered against one tableand the total of all the games played. This registering mechanism formsthe subjectmatter of a companion application herewith, and I do not,therefore, in this case illustrate and describe the same in detail, itbeing sufficient to state that there is a registering-counter for eachtable arranged within casings 2, that are so constructed that they canbe fitted together or separated to. increase or decrease the size of theregister, according to the number of tables used. Each casing isprovided with a suitable peep-hole 3, through which the figures on theregistering-counters are visible. A total-counter-wheel casing isprovided having a door 26, provided with peep- Fig. 5 is a section onthe line holes 25, through which the total-counter v wheels may be read.

39 represents keys provided on levers (not shown) that engage the tablecounter-Wheels and normally prevent backward movement thereof.

To operate the registering devices, I provide a mechanism consisting ofa suitable frame 40, secured to a plate 41, that is supported on thewall or suspended near or over the table for which the mechanism isappropriated. 42 is a shaft mountedin bearings in the frame 40, andloosely mounted thereon is a drum or barrel 43, within which a fiatcoil-spring 44 is arranged, having one end secured to said shaft and itsother end to said drum. An arm 45 is provided on said shaft and normallysecured to the frame 40 by any suitable means, as a machine-screw. Uponremoving this screw and revolving the shaft 42 the tension of the springmay be increased or diminished. The drum has a hollow face 47 and a hub48 of considerably less diameter, forming one section or portion of adifferentia'l pulley, the other section beingthe drum. A cord 31 isattached to a counter-operating mechanism within the casing 2 and to thehub 48, and a similar oppositely-wound cord 49 is secured to the drum 43and passes down through a hole 50 in said frame and is attached to apool-table triangle 51 and supports the same. The cord 49 is made ofsuch length that the triangle will be suspended upon the wall or overthe table at a sufficient height so that it will not interfere with theplayers during the progress of the game, but can be easily grasped anddrawn down by the attendant when it is desired to set the balls on thetable.

In pulling down the triangle the drum will be revolved, unwinding thecord thereon and winding up the cord 31 on the hub to operate theregister. I prefer to provide a spring 52 in the cord 31 between its huband the register, so that the cord may be short enough to V insure theoperation of the register when the through a hole 58 in the bottom ofthe frame triangle is drawn down, but at the same time through theyielding of the spring will permit the use of the triangle withoutdanger of breaking the operating mechanism or the register.

The triangle is drawn down against the tension of the drum-spring, andas it is necessary that the triangle should lie on the table during theoperation of arranging the balls without being held by the operator Iprefer to provide means for locking the operating mechanism when thetriangle has been drawn down a certain predetermined distance. Thismechanism consists, preferably, of a gear 53, mounted in the frame 40 ona stud 54 and having a series of teeth to engage a pinion 55 on and hasa forked lower end that after passing through guide-rings 59 on thecord49issecured to a spool 60. The latch 56 is held in the path of a pin61 onthe gear 53 by means of aspring 62. WVhen the operator draws downthe triangle, the gear 53 will be revolved one complete revolution andafter passing the latch 56 will be locked thereby against backwardmot'ement, and through the teeth of the gear 53 and the pinion 55backward movement of the differential pulley will be prevented alsountil such time as the operator has arranged the balls on the table,when he willgrasp the spool 60, operate the trip mechanism to disengagethe latch 56 from the pin 61, and allow the drum-spring to return thepulley to its normal position and wind up the cord 49 and unwind thecord 31 that was wound on the hub 48 or the other half of thedifierential pulley when the operator drew down the triangle to operatethe register.

The following is a brief description of the operation of my register:The registering devices, one for each table of which it is desired tokeep a record of the games, are placed near the cashiers desk, and thecords leading therefrom are run to the operating mechanisms that supportthe triangles near the tables. Whenever two or more players desire touse a table, the attendant will pull down the triangle and operate theregister for that table, and as soon asthe gear 53 has made a completerevolution the catch will lock the operating mechanism from returning toits normal position, and the operator can then place the triangle on thetable and arrange the balls therein. As soon as the balls have beenproperly placed on the table the attendant will remove the triangle,operate the trip mechanism, and the drum-spring being released will windup the cord 49 on the drum and release the registering mechanism,allowing it to return to its normal position. With each movement of theindividual table-register counter the total-counter will be operatedalso, and when sixteen games have been played at one table the counterconnected therewith will be returned to zero, as heretoforedescribed,while the total of the games for all the tables will beindicated on the total-counters. If any less than sixteen games areplayed at one table, the cashier as soon as the table is surrenderedwill press on the key 89 and allow the counter to be returned byitsspring to zero. In this way a complete accurate register is kept of allthe games played at each table and the sum-total of all the games playedat all the tables, and as the triangle cannot be used 1. In a pool-tableregister, the combination, I

with a registering mechanism, of a differential pulley, a pool-tabletriangle, cords connectingsaid pulley and said registering m echanismand triangle respectively, and a spring put under tension when thepulley is revolved in one direction to unwind the triangle-cord andoperate the registering mechanism for returning the triangle to itsnormal position when the operation of registering the game and arrangingthe balls fora new game is completed.

2. In a pool-table register, the combination, with a registeringmechanism, of a pulley, a spring connected therewith, cords connectingsaid pulley and said registering mechanism and triangle respectively,means for locking said pulley against the tension of said spring whenthe pulley has been revolved a certain predetermined number of times toallow the triangle to be placed on the table, and a trip device forreleasing said locking mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a pool-table register, the combination,

ITO

I with a registering mechanism, of a pulley arranged over or near atable, a cord secured thereon, a triangle attached to said cord, aspring within said pulley to keep the cord wound thereon, a hub providedon said pulley at one side thereof, and a cord secured to said hub andconnected with said registering mechanism and arranged to be wound onsaid hub to operate said register when said pulleycord is unwound,substantially as described.

4. In a pool-table register, the combination, with a suitable framearranged over a table, of a pulley mounted therein, cords oppositelywound on said pulley and connected respectively with the table-triangleand with a registering mechanism, means for locking said pulley when ithas made a certain predetermined number of revolutions to unwind thetriangle-cord and wind up the register-cord, a trip device for releasingsaid pulley, and a spring for returning said pulley to its normalposition when released.

5. In a pool-table register, the com bination, with a suitable frame, ofa pulley mounted therein, a cord wound upon said pulley and securedthereto, a table-triangle attached to said cord, a spring providedwithin said pulley to revolve the same and wind the cord thereon, a hubof less diameter provided at one side of said pulley, a cord securedthereto and oppositely wound thereon from said first-named cord, a geardriven by said pulley, a pin provided on said gear, a lockinglatchprovided in the path of said pin and arranged to lock said gear andpulley with each revolution of the former and a cord connected with saidlatch for tripping the same to allow said spring to return said gear andpulley to their normal position.

6. In apool-table register, the combination,

. with a suitable frame arranged over or near the table, of a pulleymounted therein, a registering mechanism, a pool table triangle, cordsconnected respectively with said registering mechanism and with saidtriangle and oppositely wound upon said pulley, a spring arranged to beput under tension by the revolution of said pulley to unwind saidtrianglecord, a gear driven by said pulley, a locking device arranged tolock said pulley and gear with each revolution of the latter, and meansfor tripping said locking device to allow said spring to return saidgear and pulley to their normal position.

7. In apool-table register, the combination, with a suitable frame, of adifferential pulley mounted therein, a spring arranged to revolve saidpulley in one direction, cords oppositely wound on said pulley andsecured thereto, a registering mechanism connected with one of saidcords, a spring provided in said cord between said register and pulley,a pool-table triangle connected with the other cord, a lockingmechanismoperated by said pulley for locking the same when it has made apredetermined number of revolutions, and means for tripping said lockingdevice to allow said spring to return said pulley to its normalposition.

8. In apool-table register, the combination, with a suitable casing, ofa counter-wheel mounted therein and provided with a series ofratchet-teeth on its periphery, a plate slidable in guides in saidcasing and having a hook to engage said teeth and move said counterforward, a dog carried by said plate, a bar having a slot to receivesaid dog, a second dog provided on said bar, atable-counter operated bysaid second dog, acord connected with said plate, a pool-table triangle,and an operating mechanism provided between said plate and said trianglefor operating said counters when said triangle is drawn down to beplaced upon the table to receive the balls.

9. An operating mechanism for pool-table registers, comprising adifferential pulley, flexible connections provided between said pulley asuitable registering mechanism and the table-triangle, and a springmechanism for returning the triangle, means for locking said pulley whensaid triangle has been drawn down to set the balls for a new game to itsnormal position when the operation of registering the game and arrangingthe balls for a new'game iscompleted.

10. The combination, with a suitable registering mechanism, of adifferential pulley, flexible connections provided between said pulleyand said registering mechanism and a pool-table triangle, respectively,and means for locking said pulley when said triangle is placed upon thetable to arrange the balls for a new game, and means for revolving saidpulley to unwind said register connection and wind up said triangleconnection when the operation of registering a game and arranging theballs for a new game is completed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day ofNovember, 1902.

GEORGE O. BECK.

In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, M. O. NOONAN.

